New York Mountain Bike TEAM

Both racing cat 2 this year, Jen and Maddie sprinted off the start and entered the first section of single track running 1st and 2nd.  It was just like a Monday night LUNA Chix ride only a lot faster!  Following Jen’s line is a pleasant experience and, after the sprint beginning, they had settled into a very sustainable pace. 

They emerged from the first single track in the same order and Maddie took advantage of her roadie skills to shoot by Jen for what she knew would be her only chance at the lead.  She managed to build about a 20 or 30 second gap before reentering the woods.  Unfortunately spending the summer ostracized from the cyclist community in Massachusetts relegated to solo roadie rides had done little for her mountain skills and, despite cleaning the first tricky climb, when they came to the first steep descent, she panicked and got stuck halfway down the hill.  Maddie moved aside to let Jen pass and never really saw her again. (No problem! As long as a LUNA lady is in the lead.)

The rest of the race went fabulously.  (With the sole exception of the beginning of Maddie’s second lap, when her seat bag exploded in full projectile glory, scattering the trail with spare tube, CO2, and bits of my mini multi-tool that had, oddly enough, chosen to fall apart as well.  A good minute or three was spent gathering the detritus!)

During the race both LUNA Chix learned what they mean in Woodstock by creek crossings: full crank arm-deep creeks about ten meters across!  A sizeable group of spectators had gathered to watch racers submerge their bottom brackets.  Emerging from a mid-race bath, Maddie was reminded that sopping wet shoes are not pleasant!  Luckily, overall the course was really lovely.  Mostly pleasing rideable yet challenging single track scattered with tough climbs and precipitous descents.  A great venue for an XC race!

Jen and Maddie finished their second laps and before they knew it they were calling everyone to the podium (a picnic bench with numbers attached to it) for awards. Eventually it was cat 2 time and Jen and Maddie (having had their names entertainingly butchered as all racers experienced… Maddie was especially amused that having pronounced Madeleine right the announcer couldn’t handle the simple Bonneville) mounted the podium for their first and second place awards.

Altogether a great day and a fabulous way to bring a little LUNA fun to a new place!  The New York LUNA Chix can’t wait until the next race at Riedlbauer’s!